ADDRESSES 


AT  THE 

INAUGURATION  OF  WILLIAM  PEPPER,  M.D. 

AS 

< 

PROVOST  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 


February  22,  1881 


PHILADELPHIA: 
COLLINS,  PRINTER,  705  JAYNE 

1881. 


STREET. 


ADDRESSES 


LsfJj 


INAUGURATION  OF  WILLIAM  PEPPER,  M.D. 


PROVOST  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 


February  22,  1881. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

COLLINS,  PRINTER,  705  JAYNE  STREET. 

1881. 

1 


William  Pepper,  M.D.,  was  elected  Provost  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania  on  the  12th  day  of  January,  1881. 

He  succeeded  Charles  J.  Stille,  LL.D.,  who  resigned  the 
office  at  the  beginning  of  the  collegiate  year,  September,  1880. 
The  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  University  received  the  accept- 
ance of  Dr.  Pepper  on  the  1st  day  of  February,  and  resolved 
that  his  inauguration  as  Provost  should  take  place  on  the  22d 
day  of  the  same  month  in  the  American  Academy  of  Music. 

At  the  appointed  time  the  Governor  of  the  State,  ex  officio 
President  of  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  Dr.  Pepper  met  the 
Trustees,  Faculties,  and  invited  guests  in  the  Foyer  of  the 
Academy  of  Music,  and  proceeded  with  them  to  the  stage, 
where  the  ceremonies  were  held,  as  follows : — 

Prayer  by  the  Rev.  George  Dana  Boardman,  D.D. 

Presentation  of  Dr.  Pepper  to  the  Governor  by  Rev.  Henry 
J.  Morton,  D.D. 


Address  by  the  Governor  of  the  State,  with  the  delivery  of 
the  keys  of  the  University,  to  Dr.  Pepper. 


4 


Address  of  welcome  on  behalf  of  the  Faculties  by  Rev. 
Charles  P.  Krauth,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  Vice-Provost  of  the  Uni- 
versity. 

Address  by  Provost  Pepper. 

Benediction  by  the  Rev.  Charles  W.  Schaeffer,  D.D. 


PRAYER 


BY  THE 

Rev.  GEORGE  DANA  BOARDMAN,  D.D. 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/addressesatinaugOOpepp 


PRAYER. 


Almighty  and  everlasting  God,  Maker  of  heaven 
and  earth,  the  blessed  and  only  Potentate,  the  King 
of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords,  we  adore  Thee  for  what 
Thou  art  in  Thyself,  a God  infinite  in  every  per- 
fection, who  wast  and  who  art  and  who  art  to  come 
the  one  Lord  God  Almighty.  We  adore  Thee  for 
what  Thou  art  in  Thy  dealings  with  the  children 
of  men;  a God  merciful  and  gracious,  long  suffer- 
ing, abundant  in  goodness  and  truth,  keeping 
mercy  for  thousands,  forgiving  iniquity  and  trans- 
gression and  sin. 

We  come  before  Thy  presence  with  thanksgiving, 
blessing  Thee  for  the  glad  occasion  which  has  sum- 
moned us  hither.  We  thank  Thee  for  our  Uni- 
versity, for  its  venerable  history,  for  the  hopes 
which  cluster  around  this  hour.  Behold  with 
favor  Thy  servant,  the  Provost,  about  to  be  in- 
vested with  the  keys  of  his  great  office ; grant  unto 
him  long  to  live,  evermore  enriching  him  with  the 
aid  of  Thy  own  counsel  and  grace,  evermore 
assuring  him  of  the  sense  of  Thy  approval.  Be- 
hold also  with  favor  Thy  servants,  his  associates 
in  the  various  departments  and  faculties,  granting 
unto  them  all  wisdom  and  fidelity,  whether  in  ad- 
ministration or  in  instruction.  Let  Thy  blessing 


8 


rest  upon  Thy  servants,  the  Board  of  Trustees,  be- 
stowing upon  them  the  spirit  of  wisdom  and  devo- 
tion in  all  their  councils  and  conclusions.  Vouch- 
safe unto  all  Thy  servants,  the  undergraduates,  the 
spirit  of  study  and  useful  ambition.  Follow  with 
Thy  grace  all  who  have  gone  forth  from  our  walls, 
enabling  them  to  fulfil  their  vocations  in  whatever 
sphere  of  life  Thy  providence  has  placed  them. 
Let  Thy  blessing  rest  upon  all  educational  institu- 
tions throughout  our  land,  enabling  them  so  to 
train  our  youths  as  that  they  shall  become  useful 
citizens,  worthy  of  the  memory  of  him  whose 
birth  the  nation  this  day  celebrates.  Regard  with 
favor  Thy  servants,  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  the  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  the  Mayor 
of  Philadelphia,  and  all  the  magistrates  in  all  the 
States.  Let  the  people  praise  Thee,  O God;  let 
all  the  people  praise  Thee.  Pour  Thy  blessing 
upon  all  the  nations  of  the  earth,  granting  unto 
them  speedy  knowledge  of  the  great  salvation 
which  Thou  dost  offer  unto  all  men  in  the  person 
and  in  the  work  of  Thy  only  begotten  and  incar- 
nate Son,  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ;  in 
whose  name  we  offer  this  our  homage  and  suppli- 
cation. 

And  now  unto  Him  that  is  able  to  do  exceeding 
abundantly  above  all  that  we  ask  or  think,  ac- 
cording to  the  power  that  worketh  in  us,  unto  Him 
be  the  glory  in  the  Church  by  Christ  Jesus 
throughout  all  ages,  world  without  end.  Amen. 


ADDRESS  BY  THE  GOVERNOR  OF  THE  STATE, 


WITH  THE 


DELIVERY  OF  THE  KEYS  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY 

TO 


DR.  PEPPER. 


ADDRESS  BY  HON.  HENRY  M.  HOYT. 


Ladies  and  Gentlemen  : — 

I do  not  feel  at  liberty  to  enter  upon  any  ex- 
tended historical  notice  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania. The  character  of  my  audience  renders  it 
unnecessary,  and  other  exercises  preclude  it.  With 
four  exceptions,  Harvard,  William  and  Mary,  Yale, 
and  Princeton,  it  is  the  oldest  institution  of  learn- 
ing in  the  United  States.  Organized  some  years 
earlier,  it  was  first  incorporated  in  1753  as  “ The 
Trustees  of  the  Academy  and  Charitable  School 
in  the  Province  of  Pennsylvania,”  its  Body  and 
Faculty  being  designated  in  the  charter  of  1755  as 
“the  Provost,  Yice-Provost,  and  Professors  of  the 
College  and  Academy  of  Philadelphia,  in  the  Pro- 
vince of  Pennsylvania.” 

In  1779,  “The  Trustees  of  the  University  of 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania”  were  incorporated. 
This  act,  intended  to  legalize  a union  of  two  enter- 
prises, led  to  much  political  and  judicial  discussion. 
The  present  form  of  the  institution  as  the  Univer- 
sity of  Pennsylvania  grew  out  of  the  consolida- 
tion made  in  the  act  of  1791,  under  the  corporate 
name  of  “The  Trustees  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania.” 


12 


As  early  as  1744,  Benjamin  Franklin,  afterwards 
first  President  of  the  Board,  had  sketched  the  plan 
of  the  school,  which,  in  1749,  was  carried  out,  and 
became  the  foundation  upon  which  the  institution 
was  built.  Its  first  Provost  was  Doctor  "William 
Smith.  The  “course  of  studies”  laid  out  by  Doc- 
tor Smith  formed  the  general  system  of  instruction 
afterwards  adopted  in  American  colleges.  When 
we  reflect  that  the  standard  of  liberal  education 
was  then  necessarily  low  in  the  colonies,  the  breadth 
of  his  scheme  is  notable.  The  principle  with  which 
he  set  out  is  worthy  of  remembrance,  and  is  as  true 
now  as  then,  “ that  nothing  can  be  proposed  by  any 
scheme  of  collegiate  education  hut  to  lay  such  a 
general  foundation  in  all  branches  of  literature  as 
may  enable  the  youth  to  perfect  themselves  in  those 
particular  parts  to  which  their  business  or  genius 
may  afterwards  lead  them ; and  scarce  anything 
has  more  obstructed  the  advancement  of  sound 
learning  than  a vain  imagination  that  a few  years 
spent  at  college  can  render  youth  such  absolute 
masters  of  science  as  to  absolve  them  from  all 
future  study.” 

David  Rittenhouse  early  became  connected  with 
the  University.  The  first  formal  commencement 
occurred  in  1757,  when  Paul  Jackson,  Jacob 
Duche,  Francis  Hopkinson,  Samuel  Magaw,  Hugh 
Williamson,  James  Latta,  and  John  Morgan  re- 
ceived the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts. 

From  that  day  onward  it  has  pursued  an  honor- 
able, conservative,  successful,  and  only  too  modest 
a career.  I say,  too  modest,  because  neither  with- 
in nor  without  the  limits  of  this  State  is  there  any 


13 


adequate  understanding  of  the  scope  of  the  estab- 
lishment. In  importance,  in  wealth,  and  in  the 
close  relation  to,  and  recognition  by  the  State 
authorities,  it  may  fairly  claim  to  be  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania.  Not,  perhaps,  that  it  makes 
other  claim  than  is  based  upon  the  quality  of  work 
^ it  has  produced.  It  is  by  virtue  of  its  recognition 

of  the  State  authorities  that  the  Governor,  ex  officio , 
has  the  privilege  and  honor  to  lend  his  official  sanc- 
tion to  these  ceremonies. 

The  University,  it  will  then  be  seen,  was  con- 
ceived in  the  clearest  light  of  educational  require- 
ments ; had  its  birth  in  the  midst  of  the  very  forma- 
tive influences  of  the  Province,  and  its  motives  in 
the  men  who  laid  the  foundation  of  pure  and  simple 
republicanism,  and  carried  forward  the  growth  of 
the  Province  into  a Commonwealth  based  on  the 
largest  idea  of  individual  freedom  and  civil  and 
religious  liberty.  It  seems  as  though  the  State 
and  the  University  had  proceeded  from  a common 
centre,  each  reaching  the  best  results,  and  their 
founders,  identical  in  name  and  purposes,  arriving, 
in  that  early  day,  at  the  highest  attainment  in  gov- 
ernmental and  scholastic  excellence.  The  names, 
especially,  which  appear  as  members  of  the  early 
Boards  of  Trustees,  are  efficiently  represented  by 
descendants,  bearing  them,  in  all  the  great  affairs 
of  society,  here  at  this  day,  and  have  fittingly  pre- 
served the  continuity  of  influence  between  the  old 
and  the  new — the  past  and  the  present. 

^ The  University  has,  therefore,  individuality  and  a 

history,  is  of  clean  lineage,  and  inherits  a valuable 
body  of  traditions.  It  is  thus  compelled  to  assume 


14 


no  ordinary  responsibility  for  the  future.  Proud 
of  its  worthy  past,  widely  rooted  in  accomplished 
successes,  strong  in  the  loyalty  of  its  children, 
many  of  whom  have  gathered  about  it  to-day,  con- 
scious of  present  eminence,  it  may  turn  to  the 
future  with  confidence.  It  occupies  a vantage- 
ground  here  in  a city  of  high  culture,  moral  strength, 
and  material  prosperity,  much  of  which  is,  doubt- 
less, its  own  creation.  It  is  surrounded  by  com- 
munities of  great  energy,  thrift,  and  alive  in  the 
appreciation  of  its  value.  From  these  sources 
should  flow  to  its  thousands  of  young  men  (and 
I trust  in  due  time,  and  under  proper  limitations, 
young  women),  as  to  a “propitious  mother.’5  It  has 
the  purpose,  the  means,  and  the  appliances  to  mould 
them  into  such  form  as  shall  befit  them  for  citizen- 
ship and  achievement  in  the  midst  of  a civilization 
of  the  highest  type,  and  in  a land  of  the  largest 
freedom.  I am  not  persuaded  that,  in  a great  city, 
it  will  ever  attract  a large  body  of  pupils  from  the 
outside  to  the  Academical  department,  and  in  this 
I shall  be  glad  to  find  myself  in  error.  But  Phila- 
delphia is  already  a literary  and  scientific  centre. 
The  University  of  Pennsylvania  can,  and  should, 
make  this  city  the  great  centre  in  America  for  the 
graduates  from  all  the  colleges  in  the  land,  to 
which  they  may  gather  to  pursue  post-graduate 
study  and  work  in  all  your  Departments  of  Lite- 
rature, Art,  Science,  Philosophy,  and  Technical 
theory  and  practice.  It  should  be  the  supreme 
effort  of  the  Trustees  to  provide  such  an  equip- 
ment in  men,  and  endowment,  and  mechanism  as 
shall  enable  it  to  set  up  and  justify  the  claim  for  a 


15 


superiority  which  shall  compel  recognition  every- 
where in  the  United  States. 

Provost  Pepper,  Sir: — 

The  events  of  this  day  will  affect  your  own 
career  and  the  fortunes  of  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania. That  they  will  terminate  in  an  auspicious 
outcome  for  you  and  it  has  been  in  the  contempla- 
tion of  the  Trustees  as  well  as  yourself.  Such 
result  has  been  the  motive  upon  which  you  have 
entered  upon  your  mutual  covenants.  Whoever 
undertakes  the  guidance  of  an  educational  struc- 
ture like  this  University  assumes  a conspicuous, 
yet  dangerous  and  delicate  public  trust:  conspicu- 
ous, because  it  stands  out  boldly  as  a great  reme- 
dial and  sustaining  agency,  supplementing  the  pro- 
gressive tendencies  of  mankind,  seeking,  if  they 
may  haply  find,  better  things ; dangerous,  because 
failure  has  ill-omened  disaster  in  its  train,  and 
concentrates  responsibility  upon  one  head;  delicate, 
because,  while  a great  success  is  attainable,  it  must 
come  from  the  nice  adjustment  of  many  means  to 
one  end,  wide  intelligence,  keen  perceptions  of  life 
and  men,  skilful  and  energetic  executive  force. 
In  this  day,  not  only  must  the  University  cover 
with  its  curriculum  the  range  of  all  humanity  and 
all  knowledge,  but  its  administration  must  be  in 
full  apprehension  of,  and  quick  sympathy  with, 
modern  methods  and  products.  Its  utilities  do  not 
terminate  with  the  year’s  work,  but  they  go  on 
forever.  Its  functions  are  to  assimilate  all  the 
facts  of  the  world  within  and  the  world  without, 
digested  free  from  error,  falsehood,  and  sophistry, 


16 


returned  to  society,  through  that  portion  of  the 
community  subjected  to  its  alchemy,  for  the  health, 
strength,  and  growth  of  the  body  politic. 

To  such  an  institution  is  confided  the  realization 
of  the  full  definition  of  education,  “the  instruction 
of  the  intellect  in  the  laws  of  nature,  under  which 
name  are  included  not  merely  things  and  their 
forces,  but  men  and  their  ways,  and  the  fashioning 
of  the  affections  and  of  the  will  into  an  earnest 
and  living  desire  to  move  in  harmony  with  these 
laws” — the  culture  of  men,  “whose  passions  are 
trained  to  come  to  heel  by  a resolute  purpose,  and 
who  have  learned  to  love  all  beauty,  whether  of 
nature  or  art,  to  hate  all  vileness,  and  to  respect 
others  as  themselves.” 

The  modern  processes  are  direct,  incisive,  and 
exact.  In  the  world  of  fact,  it  is  to  find  out  “what 
is,”  and  how;  in  the  world  of  morals,  “what  ought 
to  he,”  and  wherefore.  Hypothesis  goes  over- 
board to  make  room  for  wide  and  safe  induction. 
In  physics,  things  must  he  reduced  to  their  lowest 
elements ; propositions  in  metaphysics  and  social 
economy  to  their  lowest  terms.  Unity  must  be 
found  in  diversity,  simplicity  must  be  traced  in 
complexity,  and  chaos  must  be  made  to  yield  the 
cosmos.  These  triumphs  the  philosophy  of  modern 
teaching  is  enabling  us  to  make.  Educators  who, 
like  yourself,  preside  over  a mechanism  such  as  this, 
hold  the  crucial  tests  in  investigation.  The  secrets 
of  man  and  nature  rarely  elude  longer  the  subtle 
methods  of  detection  you  have  organized.  The  lines 
of  Fraunhofer  puzzled  you  for  a generation.  But  the 
spectroscope  of  Kirchoff  is  turned  to  the  sun  or 


17 


into  the  starry  night,  and  each  atom  and  element, 
burning  and  vibrating  in  the  abyss  of  space,  regis- 
ters its  trembling  contents  in  our  view;  or  the 
practical  student  of  to-day  turns  it  upon  the  cruci- 
ble of  molten  metal  in  one  of  our  monster  steel- 
works, and  its  texture  and  quality,  as  merchantable 
steel , are  fixed ; but,  between  them,  the  kinship  of 
the  material  heaven  and  earth  is  established. 

Lindley  Murray  worries  and  wearies  us  with  his 
number  and  case,  mood  and  tense  in  grammar,  as 
if  the  English  language  were  a thing  by  itself, 
and  out  of  all  relation  with  other  human  instru- 
mentality. Comparative  philology  tells  how  the 
Aryan  family  has  streamed  down  from  its  original 
home  in  Asia;  and  that  Homer,  Virgil,  Goethe, 
and  Shakspeare  have  only  used  the  universal  lan- 
guage of  humanity.  This  recent  science  takes  all 
languages  in  its  single  grasp,  analyzes  and  classi- 
fies them,  and  we  have  a residue  of  significant 
roots,  common  to  Jew  and  Gentile,  Greek, 
Scythian,  and  Barbarian,  in  which  mankind  have 
talked  of  strength,  labor,  and  sorrow,  “ life,  death, 
and  the  judgment  to  come.”  "Within  a few  days, 
upon  a blackboard  in  one  of  our  public  schools,  I 
have  seen  the  paradigm  of  a Latin  verb  displayed 
with  its  root,  its  prefixes,  and  suffixes,  all  its 
inflections,  skeletonized,  each  element  of  which, 
we  now  know,  was  once  significant.  That  black- 
board contained  more  science  about  a Latin  and 
Greek  verb  than  my  honored  teacher,  in  a time  not 
yet  so  very  olden,  ever  hinted  there  was  in  them, 
in  all  the  years  spent  in  “ translating”  and  “ pars- 
ing” Plautus,  Terence,  Sophocles,  and  Euripides. 

2 


18 


The  philosophy  of  history  teaches  us  that  the 
men  of  Plutarch  were  not  beings  of  another  race, 
but  that  they  were  men  of  like  passions  with  our- 
selves. Denuded  of  anger  and  dogmatism  and 
the  blood  which  stains  the  annals  of  our  "race,  all 
the  practical,  political  teachings  of  the  past  lead 
up  to  the  simple  and  easy  proposition  in  our  own 
constitution,  always  obscurely  seen,  but  never 
before  quite  formulated — “All  governments  derive 
their  just  powers  from  the  consent  of  the  gov- 
erned.” This  is  the  epitome  of  the  lessons  of  all 
anarchy,  struggles,  and  wars,  and  the  summation, 
it  is  to  be  hoped,  of  the  dark  series. 

It  would  be  a pleasure  to  allow  our  Legal  friends 
to  be  the  practitioners  of  an  “ exact  science ;”  but 
the  amazing  variety  and  tortuosity  of  human  ac- 
tions relieve  them  from  the  attempt  at  a uniform 
application  of  “the  law,”  “ the  perfection  of  human 
reason” — “ defective  by  reason  of  its  universality” 
— the  single  body  of  organized  principles  in  which 
the  rule  proves  the  exception. 

It  is  just  conceivable  to  many  of  us  how  an 
artist  paints  a picture,  or  a musician  writes  the 
score  of  an  opera.  But  when  your  mathematical 
colleagues  venture  to  reduce  all  the  phenomena  of 
the  universe  to  “modes  of  motion”  and  “equa- 
tions,” and  discourse  of  “quaternions”  and  “tri- 
linear  coordinates,”  they  take  refuge  behind  a cur- 
tain of  thick  darkness,  where  few  of  us  dare  attempt 
to  follow  them. 

The  sturdy  old  disputants  over  creeds,  dogma, 
and  cultus  are,  at  last,  on  converging  lines ; but  I 
am  reminded  that,  while  you  teach  Ethics  here,  you 


19 


have  not  as  yet  organized  a Theological  Depart- 
ment. 

In  the  presence  of  the  modern  anatomist,  with 
his  scalpel,  and  a case  of  acute  surgery  on  hand, 
an  average  human  being  is  invested  with  no  more 
sanctity  or  mystery  than  a Waltham  watch  in  the 
hands  of  its  maker.  As  a piece  of  machinery,  the 
man  and  the  watch  are  to  be  treated  on  the  same 
plane  of  mechanical  certainty.  When  it  comes  to 
pathology  and  therapeutics,  the  ordinary  patient 
may  justifiably  breathe  easier  while  the  “ doctors,” 
Hippocrates  being  dead  these  two  thousand  years 
and  more,  still  confront  each  other  with  “doc- 
trines.” 

But  it  ill  becomes  a layman,  such  as  I,  to  dis- 
course of  these  things  to  professors,  such  as  you 
and  your  co-laborers,  in  this  presence — the  threshold 
of  the  greatest  medical  schools  in  the  world. 

It  is  the  determinate  office  of  yourself,  and  of 
the  University  whose  destiny  you  are  now  to  con- 
trol, to  lay  these  and  other  great  generalizations, 
and  the  facts  out  of  which  they  flow,  before  your 
pupils.  But  not  these  facts  alone.  Your  duties 
are  not  to  be  limited  to  the  mere  imparting  of  in- 
formation. You  are  to  show  the  relations  of  cause 
and  effect  between  them — of  antecedent  and  con- 
sequent— of  premises  and  conclusion. 

You  are  to  disclose  the  nexus  by  which,  philo- 
sophically, they  are  tied  together.  You  are  to 
insist  that  all  nature  is  one ; that  the  essential 
principles  of  humanity  are  one;  that  all  truth  is 
one.  While  you  point  out  how  unalterable  are  the 
fixed  laws  in  the  region  of  matter,  and  the  fixed 


20 


laws  in  the  region  of  mind,  yon  are  not  to  forget 
that  the  “Lord  of  sciences  is  the  Lord  of  souls” 
as  well.  We  mortals  stand  here  in  the  shadow  of 
the  Infinite,  which  is  ever  brooding  over  us.  When 
we  come  to  repent,  as  repent  we  must,  let  us  not 
forget  “ that  in  his  repentance,  man  weeps,  not  upon 
the  lap  of  nature,  but  at  the  feet  of  God.” 

PRESENTATION  OF  THE  KEYS  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY. 

Sir,  standing,  in  a sense,  for  the  Commonwealth, 
speaking  for  the  Board  of  Trustees,  and  represent- 
ing the  expectations  of  the  great  body  of  your 
personal  friends,  it  gives  me  pleasure  to  declare  the 
most  explicit  belief  that  you  will  fill  all  the  high 
conditions  of  your  new  calling,  and  meet  all  the 
demands  of  the  new  situation  in  which  you  now 
find  yourself.  Permit  me,  then,  in  their  name  to 
testify  formally  to  that  belief,  by  handing  you  these 
symbols  of  your  full  investiture  with  all  the  au- 
thority they  can  confer  upon  you — that  of  the 
Provost  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

REPLY  OF  DR.  PEPPER. 

I gladly  accept  this  key  of  my  office  as  Provost 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  not  being  un- 
mindful of  the  weighty  responsibilities  attaching 
to  it,  but  trusting  humbly  that,  under  the  blessing 
and  guidance  of  Almighty  God,  the  efforts  of  my 
associates  and  myself  to  promote  the  welfare  of 
this  Institution  may  be  rightly  directed. 


ADDRESS  OF  WELCOME 


ON  BEHALF  OF  THE  TRUSTEES. 


BY 

Key.  CHARLES  P.  KRAUTH,  D.D.,LL.D, 

VICE-PROVOST  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY. 


ADDRESS  BY  CHARLES  P.  KRAUTH,  D.D.,  LL.D. 


It  has  become  my  duty,  by  the  request  of  the 
Trustees  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  to 
offer  an  official  welcome,  in  the  name  of  its  Facul- 
ties, to  the  gentleman  on  whom  our  Board,  by  its 
unanimous  choice  of  him  as  Provost,  has  conferred 
the  highest  office  and  the  highest  honor  in  its  gift. 

The  Faculties  would  welcome  the  entrance  of  the 
Provost  on  his  office,  were  it  for  no  higher  reason 
than  that  it  brings  with  it  the  relief  of  a protracted 
suspense.  Whatever  relative  efficiency  the  best 
temporary  arrangements  may  have,  they  involve, 
in  some  degree  at  least,  a pause.  The  u pulse  of 
the  machine”  beats  more  slowly.  Expectancy  is 
impotency.  Interregna,  vice-regencies,  and  all  pro- 
visional governments  are  characteristically  weak. 
A body  needs  one  head;  and  that  head  must  be 
firmly  united  with  it,  not  by  mechanical,  but  by 
vital  bonds.  We  welcome  one  by  whom  the  com- 
plete normal  organism  is  restored.  As  a body  we 
welcome  our  official  head. 

But  the  welcome  is  intensified  by  the  fact  that 
the  great  need  of  our  University  has  been  supplied 
from  her  own  home,  and  her  own  ranks.  Our 
Trustees  have  given  us  as  Provost  a native  of  the 


24 


State  for  whose  advantage  first,  though  not  alone, 
our  University  was  established,  and  whose  name 
she  bears.  They  have  given  us  a native  of  the 
city  for  which  our  University  has  done  so  much, 
and  which  has  so  vital  a stake  in  her  prosperity. 
Our  Provost  comes  to  the  service  of  his  Alma 
Mater.  He  has  taken  from  her  hand  the  two 
crowns  of  Academic  laurels ; he  has  pursued  his 
professional  studies  in  her  medical  school,  and  has 
occupied  an  honored  place  by  the  side  of  men  who 
were  once  his  instructors.  There  was  but  one 
higher  step,  and  that  he  has  now  been  called  to 
take.  “ Them  that  honor  me  I will  honor.” 

Our  local  feeling  is  gratified  the  more  because 
local  feeling  had  no  illicit  influence  in  the  choice. 
The  besetting  sin  of  Philadelphia  lies  in  the  con- 
trary direction.  She  is  often  the  last  to  recognize 
the  merit  of  her  own  citizens.  Residence  in  her 
midst  seems  almost  a barrier  to  the  honors  she  con- 
fers. She  forgets  her  children  who  deserve  well  of 
her,  and  wonders  why  other  places  have  so  many 
more  men  of  renown.  The  fame  of  her  sons  comes 
to  her  as  an  echo,  and  the  echo  must  be  very  clear, 
and  repeated  many  times,  before  she  deigns  to  notice 
it.  Our  Board  so  epitomizes  the  best  Philadelphia, 
its  professional  life,  its  commerce,  its  manufactur- 
ing interests,  its  solid  wealth,  and  its  enterprise, 
its  political  forces,  its  science  and  literature,  its 
renown,  and  its  social  culture,  that  we  may  consider 
its  act  as  representative,  and  rejoice  that  our  city 
has  come,  in  this  case  at  least,  to  that  best  repent- 
ance, sorrow  verified  in  amendment.  We  welcome 
our  Provost  because  he  comes  invested  with  the 


25 


credentials  which  assure  us  that  in  the  long-de- 
ferred and  well-weighed  judgment  of  the  Board  he 
is  the  man  needed  for  the  great  crisis  which  has 
been  reached  in  the  history  of  the  University.  We 
are  not  taking  off  our  armor  at  the  close  of  a great 
battle,  fought  and  won;  we  are  only  fairly  girding 
it  on.  After  the  opportunities  of  observation  for 
years,  a member  of  our  faculties  cannot  fail  to  have 
an  acquaintance  with  our  real  position  and  our 
pressing  wants,  which  no  stranger  could  possibly 
possess.-  A visitor,  who  simply  looked  upon  the 
externals,  marked  our  piles  of  beautiful  and  har- 
monious edifices,  which  take  a high  place  among 
the  educational  buildings  of  the  world,  saw  our 
carefully  selected  apparatus,  our  fine  laboratories, 
our  happy  beginnings  of  libraries,  already  rich  in 
special  departments,  might  feel  assured  that  we 
must  be  munificently  endowed.  When  he  read  the 
list  of  men  of  eminence  who  form  our  corps  of 
instructors,  learned  of  the  growth  of  the  number  of 
pupils,  saw  how  the  old  departments  had  been  en- 
larged and  strengthened,  and  how  many  new  and 
healthy  interests  had  been  created,  noted  how  cau- 
tion and  progress  have  worked  together  in  giving 
a steady  and  safe  growth  in  every  line  of  advance 
throughout  the  eventful  last  twelve  years,  he  might 
think  that  our  imminent  problem  would  soon  be  to 
find  new  spheres  of  activity.  When  he  was  told 
that  these  vast  improvements  had  been  suggested 
or  made  possible  by  some  of  the  most  munificent 
bequests  and  princely  donations  in  the  history  of 
endowments,  he  might  suppose  that  the  past  gave 
such  a guarantee  for  the  future  that  we  needed 


26 


little  now  but  fresh  schemes  to  break  the  way  to 
fresh  glories.  Nor  can  it  be  denied  that  the  facts 
on  which  such  an  enthusiastic  judgment  might  rest 
are  substantial  facts.  They  are  not  overstated.  Not 
only  have  great  things  been  planned,  but  great 
things  have  been  accomplished.  Yet  the  theory  is 
not  wholly  true ; not  that  it  rests  on  untruth,  but 
that  it  does  not  rest  on  the  whole  truth.  It  exag- 
gerates nothing  which  it  takes  into  account,  but  it 
does  not  take  everything  into  account.  Before  we 
can  tell  whether  an  institution  be  rich  we  must 
know  not  only  what  is  its  capital,  but  what  interest 
that  capital  pays.  An  endowment  in  expectations 
may  create  a Department,  but  it  will  not  meet  its 
expenses,  and  the  credit  which  facilitates  the  mak- 
ing of  debts  will  not  pay  them.  Moderately  large 
endowments  are  not  adequate  to  gigantic  plans. 
The  most  plausible  hypothecations  are  sometimes 
the  most  illusive.  The  man  who  is  familiar  with 
that  open  secret,  the  real  position  of  the  Univer- 
sity, knows  that  we  need  very  much  more  endow- 
ment, even  for  our  present  work  and  our  present 
liabilities.  Great  Universities  are  stupendous  chari- 
ties, and  in  one  sense  the  greater  they  are  the 
more  they  cost,  the  more  they  need,  and  the  less 
they  pay.  They  are  not  meant  to  make  money,  but 
to  make  men,  and  no  University  can  do  both.  The 
University  that  deals  or  is  dealt  with  in  a niggardly 
way  will  do  neither. 

We  have  not  “exhausted  worlds,”  and  are  in  no 
need  of  “imagining  new.”  We  have  paid  much, 
but  we  have  not  paid  for  what  we  have,  for  we  have 
very  much ; and  there  is  a great  deal  that  we  need 


I 


27 

for  which  we  are  not  yet  even  in  debt.  The  Uni- 
versity is  sanguine  and  perplexed  in  the  midst  of 
great  plans  imperfectly  carried  out,  plans  in  which 
the  future  must  be  won  or  the  past  be  lost,  plans 
whose  yet  unrealized  history  is  to  determine  whether 
they  shall  be  her  glory  or  her  shame.  She  is  poor 
in  her  wealth,  weak  in. her  strength,  embarrassed  in 
her  increase — with  glorious  ends  and  with  crippled 
means,  suffering  at  once  from  the  reputation  of 
wealth  and  the  pressure  of  poverty.  Her  hope 
breaks  like  a star  through  a cloud,  bright  but  dis- 
tant, while  her  care  sits  upon  the  pillion,  with  its 
grisly  arms  around  her. 

*We  welcome  in  the  Provost  one  who,  we  trust, 
will  catch  inspiration  from  difficulty,  and  will  bear 
a decisive  part  in  giving  us  a University  which  will 
justify  our  highest  pride.  To  do  this  it  must  be 
more  than  a big  local  school ; it  must  be  the  educa- 
tional centre  of  Pennsylvania,  one  of  the  greatest 
of  institutions  in  the  judgment  of  the  wide  world — 
a Keystone  University  for  the  Keystone  State. 

The  Faculties  welcome  their  new  Provost  because 
in  the  changes  demanded  for  his  official  position  he 
embodies  great  concessions  to  a need  imperatively 
felt,  and  long  and  urgently  pressed — the  need  of  a 
better  organization  in  respect  to  the  relations  of  the 
Board  and  of  the  Faculties.  We  are  now  unified 
governmentally  by  having  our  supreme  executive 
officer  in  common.  The  Provost  who  approaches 
the  Faculties  from  the  Board,  approaches  the  Board 
from  the  Faculties.  Help  is  given  to  the  more 
perfect  understanding  and  sympathy  which  are 
indispensable  to  the  two  general  co-organizations. 


28 


The  inevitable  danger  of  an  imperfect  practical 
unification  is,  that  each  body  isolates  its  particu- 
lar rights  and  duties,  and  is  tempted  to  think  that 
it  is  for  itself  and  the  other  for  it.  A Board  may 
come  to  look  upon  the  Faculties  almost  as  if  they 
were  its  personal  servants.  A Faculty  may  come 
to  look  upon  a Board  as  if  -a  Board  were  a mere 
contrivance  for  the  supply  of  temporal  means. 
“We  employ  you  to  do  work  for  us,”  sums  up  the 
impression  upon  the  one  side.  “You  pay  us  for 
our  work,”  is  the  tacit  explanation  of  the  bond 
on  the  other.  The  result  is  a hiring  body,  and  a 
body  of  hirelings.  The  Faculty  of  a University 
is  its  soul — but  without  a Board  of  Trustees  it 
might  be  a disembodied  soul,  or  a soul  “ without 
enough  body  to  cover  it  decently.”  A University 
depends  indeed  at  last  upon  its  Faculties.  No 
buildings  or  endowments  can  be  vast  enough  and 
rich  enough  to  compensate  for  the  want  of  able 
and  devoted  teachers.  A Chapel  of  St.  Ursula  is 
not  a University,  however  symmetrical  may  be 
the  arrangement  of  its  empty  skulls,  or  artistic  the 
groupings  of  its  dry  bones.  It  is  impossible  to 
create  living  Universities  out  of  dead  professors. 
Here  at  least  the  theory  of  spontaneous  generation 
will  not  hold.  Nothing  but  life  evokes  life.  The 
vital  spark  and  the  moral  force  of  Universities  are  in 
their  Faculties.  You  cannot  degrade  the  Faculties 
either  by  the  way  in  which  you  make  them,  or  by 
the  way  in  which  you  treat  them,  without  degrad- 
ing the  Institution.  The  supremest  glory  of  a 
Board  is  the  creation  of  noble  Faculties,  unless 
it  make  that  glory  its  shame  by  abandoning  or 


29 


slighting  the  work  of  its  own  hands.  True 
Faculties,  therefore,  of  right  feel  that  they  ought 
to  he  esteemed  very  highly  for  their  works’  sake. 
Faculties  are  indeed  means,  not  the  end ; but  they 
are  the  means  nearest  the  end,  and  entitled  to  he 
considered  next  after  the  end.  But,  on  the  other 
hand,  the  Faculties  .depend  upon  the  Trustees. 
Not  only  does  their  existence  depend  upon  the 
wisdom  which  chooses  fit  men,  and  provides  for 
them,  but  their  completest  success  in  education 
and  discipline  is  impossible  unless  the  Trustees 
comprehend  their  worth  and  give  them  the  fullest 
moral  support. 

An  army  divided  by  the  conflict  of  authority 
between  two  able  generals  may  be  beaten  by  the 
army  which  has  but  one  general,  even  though  he 
be  a poor  one.  “One  bad  general  is  better  than 
two  good  ones,  at  the  head  of  an  army.”  So  says 
the  highest  military  authority  in  expressing  the 
imperative  need  of  unity.  When  a Faculty  and  a 
Board  are  discordant  authorities,  an  institution  is 
torn  apart  by  the  forces  which  should  consolidate  it 
Unity  is  efficiency ; severance  is  destruction.  A 
common  headship  promotes  a common  heartship. 
The  external  and  the  internal  cannot  each  have  a 
head  of  its  own,  and  a heart  of  its  own.  They 
ought  to  be  two  sides  of  one  organism,  knit  into 
unity  by  one  head  and  one  heart, — and  an  aid  to 
this  is  what  we  welcome  in  the  new  relations  of 
the  Provost  to  the  Board. 

This  happy  advance  in  organization  is  indeed 
associated  with  other  changes,  not  like  it,  the  out- 
growth of  general  and  thoroughly  tested  convic- 


30 


tions,  but  necessitated  by  special  conditions.  In 
the  nature  of  the  case,  as  regards  these  changes,  the 
Faculties,  like  the  Board  itself,  can  walk  at  best 
only  by  faith.  There  is  yet  no  vision  to  give  them 
aid,  no  experience  to  inspire  assurance.  Experi- 
ments can  be  tested  only  by  experiment.  Mean- 
while the  Faculties  will  not  manufacture  prophecies, 
and  then  go  to  work  to  fulfil  them ; they  have  no 
wish  that  is  father  to  their  fear  ; but  are  heartily 
resolved  that  they  will  bring  to  the  untried  methods 
loyal  purpose  and  honest  co-operation. 

We  welcome  our  new  Provost,  because  we  know 
that  he  has  felt  am  interest  in  the  University  which 
has  led  him  to  watch,  with  sympathetic  study,  all 
the  steps  by  which  it  has  made  its  latest  advances. 
In  every  question  in  which  his  own  Faculty  has 
been  called  to  decide  between  the  higher  and  the 
lower  standard,  he  has  stood  with  the  higher.  In 
all  departments  of  the  University  there  has  been 
fresh  life  ; new  plans  have  been  vigorously  urged, 
and  vast  strides  have  been  taken.  An  incoming 
administration  will  carefully  study  a successful 
and  brilliant  administration  which  preceded  it. 
While  the  University  stands,  it  will  stand  as  a 
memorial  of  the  energy  and  self-consecration  of 
our  late  Provost,  who  brought  to  his  work  an 
enthusiasm  which  inspired  enthusiasm,  a tireless 
industry  and  persistence,  a singleness  of  purpose, 
and  an  unwearied  concentration  of  effort  which 
surmounted  the  most  formidable  obstacles;  and 
when  its  walls  have  crumbled,  its  history  will  pre- 
serve for  all  generations  to  come,  in  the  perpetual 
freshness  of  grateful  recognition,  the  invaluable 


services  of  Dr.  Charles  J.  Stille.  No  after  ad- 
ministration can  afford  to  efface  the  footprints  of 
the  past,  to  ignore  the  work  which  has  been  done, 
to  leave  it  in  the  temporary  incompleteness  which 
is  the  result  of  its  greatness,  or  decline  to  move  in 
the  line  of  its  promise.  The  trail  of  the  pioneers 
must  be  broken  into  a highway,  or  the  thorns  of 
the  wilderness  will  overrun  it  again. 

But  the  monumental  tribute  to  the  administra- 
tion which  passes,  is  not  without  its  antedating  for 
the  one  which  comes.  The  University  buildings 
as  they  stand  have  one  edifice,  saddest  and  holiest 
of  them  all,  which  is  already  a guarantee  that  to 
the  achievements  of  professional  skill  and  success 
our  new  Provost  brings  a heart  yearning  for  noble 
work  and  an  energy  which  performs  it.  In  de- 
fiance of  the  prosy  pragmatism  of  anatomy,  and 
sustained  by  the  authority  of  Solomon,  we  are  sure 
that  the  heart  of  our  Provost  is  at  his  right  hand. 
To  him  who  has  pleaded  for  mercy  to  the  helpless 
sick  as  a lover  would  plead  his  own  cause;  who, 
working  with  other  men  of  good  will,  took  by  tacit 
election  the  headship  among  them ; who  has 
touched  with  a master  hand  the  springs  of  influ- 
ence— to  him  public  esteem  has  given  the  wreath, 
as  the  moral  architect  of  our  Hospital.  The  Hos- 
pital is  the  headstone  of  our  beneficent  work. 
By  it,  the  University,  long  the  mistress  of  human 
Arts  and  Sciences,  has  become  the  direct  hand- 
maiden of  the  Heavenly  pity. 

The  record  of  our  Provost  here  has  helped  to 
give  him  the  reputation  of  undertaking  great 
things  and  of  failing  in  nothing  he  undertakes. 


82 


That  reputation  is  already  half  success,  and  that 
reputation  is  now  to  be  put  into  the  crucible,  and 
we  believe  will  endure  it.  That  our  Provost  will 
bring  his  energy  to  bear  impartially  on  every  in- 
terest of  the  University,  that  he  will  show  no 
favoritism,  that  he  will  cultivate  each  part  for 
the  benefit  of  all  parts,  and  advance  the  whole  for 
the  benefit  of  each,  that  he  will  see  to  it  that  no 
department  shall  by  its  inertness  become  parasitic 
on  the  others,  or  by  its  disproportioned  stimulation 
develop  into  a heating  aneurism  on  the  body — 
these  are  the  beliefs  of  the  Faculties  which  prompt 
their  welcome. 

That  by  the  gracious  Providence  of  God,  to 
which  our  University  owes  all  its  successes,  and 
on  which  depend  all  its  anticipations,  our  Provost 
may  be  endowed  with  the  full  spirit  of  his  office, 
the  wisdom  to  plan,  the  moral  courage  to  defend, 
and  the  strength  to  execute ; that  he  may  be  sus- 
tained in  the  effort  and  cheered  in  the  trials  which 
belong  to  his  exalted  and  difficult  position — these 
are  the  wishes,  these  the  hopes,  these  the  prayers, 
in  which  the  Faculties  desire  to  embody  their 
purest  and  warmest  Welcome. 


ADDRESS  BY  WILLIAM  PEPPER,  M.D., 


PROVOST  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY. 


ADDRESS  BY  PROVOST  PEPPER. 


It  is  according  to  time-honored  custom,  that, 
having  received  the  keys  of  my  office  as  Provost 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  I am  now  per- 
mitted to  address  yon  as  the  official  representa- 
tive of  this  venerable  Institution.  It  is,  indeed, 
,a  custom  sanctioned  as  well  by  illustrious  prece- 
dent as  by  its  apparent  fitness,  since  it  may  rea- 
sonably be  assumed  that,  under  ordinary  circum- 
stances, the  tenure  of  office  of  each  Provost  or 
President  marks  in  the  history  of  a university  an 
epoch,  characterized  more  or  less  strongly  by  the 
individual  qualities  of  the  man,  and  embracing  the 
origin  of  important  movements  and  the  develop- 
ment or  modification  of  plans  already  in  operation. 
No  opportunity  can  be  found,  therefore,  so  well 
fitted  for  submitting  to  the  graduates  and  friends 
of  a university  a statement  of  its  recent  pro- 
gress and  of  the  measures  contemplated  for  its 
future  advancement,  as  that  on  which  he,  to  whom 
has  been  intrusted  the  task  of  directing  this  devel- 
opment in  accordance  with  the  spirit  and  traditions 
of  the  past  history  of  the  Institution,  first  appears 
as  its  official  representative.  Such  a statement 
should  not  be  expected  to  contain  matters  of  a start- 


36 


ling  or  novel  character.  Just  as  the  life-power  of 
a great  institution,  with  its  hoarded  wealth  of  the 
devotion  of  those  who  have  faithfully  served  it  and 
generously  supported  it ; of  the  piety,  wisdom, 
and  learning  of  the  teachers  who  have  adorned 
it;  of  the  achievements  of  its  sons  who  have  illus- 
trated it,  exceeds  that  of  any  individual,  so  much 
the  more  necessary  is  it  that  its  life-history  shall 
be  one  of  natural  and  progressive  development. 
While  within  certain  wide  limits  the  greatest  ac- 
tivity and  expansion  are  desirable,  it  is  essential 
that  there  shall  be  a true  continuous  progress,  and 
not  a series  of  abrupt,  violent,  and  ill-combined 
movements,  inspired  by  caprice  or  uncontrollable 
restlessness. 

In  all  vigorous  organizations  destined  to  perfect 
development  there  are,  however,  occasional  periods 
of  extraordinary  change  and  activity,  when  growth 
is  rapid  and  when  new  and  varied  powers  display 
themselves.  This  is  true  no  less  of  nations  and  of 
great  institutions  than  it  is  of  individuals.  Through 
such  a period  of  rare  developmental  activity  has  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania  been  passing  during  the 
last  decade  : and  the  changes  that  have  occurred  in 
that  time  as  affecting  the  condition  of  the  various 
departments  ; the  organization  of  the  corporation  ; 
the  relations  of  the  University  to  the  community; 
and  the  claims  that  it  may  fairly  make  upon  its 
graduates  and  upon  all  friends  of  higher  education, 
are  so  great  as  to  demand  our  careful  consideration. 
One  who  can  recall  the  contracted  space  contain- 
ing the  modest  University  buildings  of  ten  years 
ago  need  but  turn  to  the  new  grounds,  compar- 


atively  ample  but  still  inadequate,  where  stand 
the  group  of  spacious  halls  erected  since  that  date, 
to  appreciate  what  the  development  of  the  various 
departments  has  been.  Even  to  enumerate  the 
important  advances  that  have  been  made  in  the 
educational  system  and  position  of  the  University 
would  occupy  too  much  space. 

The  methods  of  study  in  the  Academic  Depart- 
ment have  been  improved  and  its  resources  greatly 
strengthened ; and  since  the  adoption  of  the  elec- 
tive system  to  as  great  an  extent  as  the  policy  of 
this  University  regards  as  desirable,  it  offers  such 
advantages  as  must  ensure  it  constantly  increas- 
ing; success. 

The  Towne  Scientific  School,  endowed  by  the 
princely  munificence  of  its  founder,  has  attained 
such  completeness  of  organization,  and  such 
abundant  facilities  in  most  branches  of  technical 
education,  as  fairly  to  entitle  it  to  the  prominent 
position  it  has  rapidly  acquired. 

The  Department  of  Medicine,  freed  from  the 
trammels  of  an  effete  system,  has  strengthened  its 
claim  to  be  the  foremost,  as  it  is  the  oldest  and 
most  celebrated,  of  the  Medical  Schools  of  America. 

The  Law  School,  animated  by  an  active  and 
progressive  spirit,  has  exhibited  such  gratifying 
evidences  of  its  powers  and  capacity,  and  has 
gained  in  reputation  so  rapidly,  as  to  justify  the 
brightest  hopes  for  its  future. 

While  these  older  departments  of  the  Univer- 
sity have  thus  advanced,  the  new  School  of  Music 
has  acquired  a creditable  position  ; and  the  Depart- 
ment of  Dentistry  has  at  once  assumed  a leading 


38 


position  among  the  schools  where  this  important 
branch  of  professional  education  is  pursued. 

The  total  number  of  students  in  attendance  at 
the  University  has  increased  from  575  in  1870  to 
9G9  in  1881,  a gain  of  60  per  cent. ; the  number 
of  professors  has  increased  from  31  to  44  in  the 
same  time;  and,  to  indicate  the  extent  to  which 
practical  instruction  has  been  introduced,  the  num- 
ber of  demonstrators  bas  advanced  from  2 to  25. 

It  is  impossible  to  pass  from  this  hasty  summary 
of  the  advances  in  the  strength  and  organization  of 
the  various  departments  of  the  University  without 
pausing  to  pay  a tribute  of  hearty  admiration  to 
the  leader  in  this  onward  movement,  to  whose  sus- 
tained enthusiasm  and  ceaseless  energy  its  success 
is  largely  due.  The  task  of  inaugurating  extensive 
changes  in  a long-established  institution ; of  arous- 
ing widespread  interest  and  zeal  at  a time  when 
they  had  flagged  ; of  organizing  a complicated  and 
yet  thoroughly  practicable  system  of  education  in 
two  of  the  most  important  departments  of  the  Uni- 
versity ; of  collecting  a corps  of  highly  competent 
teachers,  imbued  with  earnestness  and  lofty  aims 
similar  to  hik  own;  of  winning  the  confidence  of 
the  community,  the  cordial  co-operation  of  his  col- 
leagues, and  the  respect  and  affection  of  the  stu- 
dents;— this  task  was,  indeed,  one  requiring  rare 
qualities  as  an  organizer,  a leader,  a teacher,  and 
a man.  As  an  alumnus  of  the  University;  as  a 
teacher  in  one  of  its  departments  during  the  period 
referred  to;  and  now  as  the  representative  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees, — lean  testify  to  the  general  feel- 
ing of  admiration  for  the  work  done,  and  for  him  who 


39 


bore  so  large  a share  of  the  burden.  Well  for  our 
beloved  University  was  it  that  at  such  a crisis  in 
her  history  so  able  and  devoted  a leader  was  found. 
The  good  work  he  has  done  will  long  survive  his 
departure  from  his  official  position;  and  when,  in 
the  distant  future,  the  historian  of  this  University 
shall  record  the  services  of  those  who  have  most 
contributed  to  her  proud  position,  among  the  fore- 
most must  stand  the  name  of  Charles  Janeway 
Stille. 

No  less  important  changes  have  meantime  taken 
place  in  the  internal  organization  of  the  University ; 
some  of  which  are  of  such  recent  occurrence  that, 
even  before  this  audience,  I may  be  pardoned  for 
alluding  to  them. 

The  Board  of  Trustees,  in  which  the  corporate 
rights  of  the  University  are  vested,  owes  its  present 
composition  to  an  Act  of  Assembly  passed  Sept. 
30, 1791,  which  provided  that  the  Board  should  con- 
sist of  twenty-four  members,  with  the  Governor  of 
Pennsylvania,  for  the  time  being ; and  that  the 
Governor  should  be  President.*  For  many  years 
past,  circumstances  have  prevented  the  Governors 
of  Pennsylvania  from  occupying  their  official 
position  in  connection  with  the  Board  and  the  Uni- 
versity. The  link  between  the  University  and 
the  State  has  thus  been  but  little  recognized ; and 
yet  it  seems  to  me  most  important  that  it  should 
again  become  a real  and  vital  one.  There  is  no 
question  of  State  interference  or  control,  since  the 


* The  seat  of  State  Government  was  transferred  to  Harrisburg  in 
1812. 


40 


authority  of  the  University  is  clearly  defined  and 
independent;  but,  on  the  other  hand,  the  associa- 
tion that  is  implied  by  the  fact  that  the  Governor 
for  the  time  being  is  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  University,  shows  that  from  the 
beginning  this  was  designed  to  be,  not  a local  in- 
stitution of  this  city,  but  truly  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  the  great  central  representative  in- 
stitution of  a great  and  populous  State.  I must 
regard  it  as  of  good  omen  that,  on  this  occasion, 
the  highest  function  of  the  Governor  in  his  official 
connection  with  the  University  has  been  performed 
in  person;  and  by  one  whose  scholarly  attainments 
are  no  less  conspicuous  than  are  his  public  char- 
acter and  position. 

As  time  advances,  the  advantage  of  a large  Board 
of  Trustees  becomes,  and  will  become,  more  and 
more  evident.  It  makes  it  more  probable  that  a 
broad,  catholic,  and  non-sectarian  spirit  will  always 
animate  the  administration  of  the  University.  It 
renders  it  possible  to  secure  the  services  of  men, 
eminent  in  every  walk  of  life,  who  may  bring  to 
the  study  of  the  questions  that  arise  in  the  various 
departments  the  special  skill  and  knowledge  of 
experts,  combined  with  sound  practical  judgment 
and  general  culture.  Such  a corporation  will  never 
be  unduly  controlled  by  the  views  or  personal  in- 
fluence of  any  one  man;  and  its  slowly  changing 
composition  ensures  a settled  and  abiding  policy, 
faithful  to  tradition,  and  yet  steadily  progressive. 
Large  as  its  numbers  are,  the  duties  devolving  on 
the  members  are  onerous  and  responsible,  and 
from  the  earliest  days  of  the  University  to  the 


present  time  they  have  been  discharged,  by  succes- 
sive generations  of  eminent  citizens,  with  scrupu- 
lous fidelity  and  with  singular  devotion. 

As  regards  the  relations  of  the  Faculties  to  the 
corporation,  important  and  salutary  changes  have 
been  made  in  the  past  decade.  It  is  of  course  im- 
possible that  in  the  various  departments  of  a great 
University,  an  exact  similarity  shall  exist  in  such 
points  as  the  character  of  preliminary  examina- 
tions, the  mode  of  arranging  and  grading  studies, 
the  duration  of  the  course  of  study;  but  it  is 
vitally  important  that,  in  all  that  concerns  its 
internal  organization,  and  the  relations  of  its 
Faculties  to  each  other,  to  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
and  to  the  students,  the  greatest  uniformity  shall 
prevail ; so  that  each  department  shall  regard 
itself  chiefly  as  a component  part  of  the  entire 
University.  Without  this,  it  is  impossible  for  a 
vigorous  and  genuine  University  spirit  to  be  main- 
tained, pervading  alike  Faculties  and  students. 

Equally  essential  is  it  that,  as  regards  the 
special  interests  of  each  department,  the  greatest 
possible  power  and  authority  should  be  lodged  in 
the  hands  of  the  respective  Faculties.  There  can 
be  no  healthy  or  sustained  activity  on  the  part 
of  any  public  officials  unless  they  are  actuated 
by  a high  sense  of  their  individual  responsibility. 
There  can  be  no  intelligent  sense  of  responsibility 
unless  it  is  based  upon  the  feeling  that  there 
has  been  conferred  the  power  necessary  for  the 
successful  discharge  of  duty.  There  can,  there- 
fore, be  no  question  as  to  the  wisdom  of  the 
recent  amendments  to  the  statutes  of  the  Uni- 


42 


versity  (January,  1881),  which  delegate  to  the 
Faculties  of  each  department  the  administration 
of  discipline ; the  approval  of  all  requisitions  for 
supplies;  the  decision  as  to  applications  for  free 
scholarships ; the  care  and  supervision  of  the 
buildings  and  grounds;  and  the  control  of  all  em- 
ployes. The  Dean  of  each  Faculty  becomes  the 
executive  officer  of  that  Department,  and  the 
practical  autonomy  of  the  Faculties  is  estab- 
lished. There  will  inevitably  arise,  under  the 
continued  discharge  of  these  enlarged  duties,  a 
keener  sense  of  individual  interest  in  the  welfare 
and  progress  of  each  department. 

Spacious  halls,  rich  collections  and  libraries,  and 
munificent  endowments  are  necessary  adjuncts  to 
a great  University;  but  they  do  not  and  cannot 
render  a University  great.  This  can  be  done  solely 
by  the  work  of  its  teachers  ; by  their  learning;  by 
their  zeal  and  ability  in  teaching;  by  their  personal 
influence  over  their  students;  and  by  their  wider 
influence  over  the  intellectual  life  of  the  surround- 
ing community.  No  services  rendered  to  a people 
can  exceed  in  value  those  of  the  successful  edu- 
cators of  its  youth ; and  for  services  so  responsi- 
ble, so  difficult,  and  demanding  such  rare  qualifi- 
cations, no  honors  or  rewards  would  be  excessive. 
Yet  it  would  almost  appear  that  the  people  im- 
agine that  these  exceptional  and  valuable  men  are 
to  be  secured  in  any  number,  and  for  salaries 
barely  adequate  to  support  a decent  existence. 

The  love  of  knowledge  and  culture  for  their  own 
sake,  and  the  fascination  of  teaching,  do  indeed 
lead  many  a man  of  the  highest  ability  to  neglect 


43 


the  lucrative  occupations  of  life  and  to  devote  him- 
self for  long  years  to  intense  study  and  to  the  art 
of  teaching.  But  the  purest  zeal  might  well  grow 
languid,  after  years  of  labor,  with  no  more  adequate 
reward  than  the  cheap  title  of  Professor,  and  a 
salary — small  in  comparison  with  that  of  many 
salesmen — and  pitiful  in  comparison  with  that  of 
the  officials  of  other  large  corporations. 

I would  not  imply  that  the  spirit  actuating 
earnest  teachers  is  often  a mercenary  one.  Proba- 
bly no  more  disinterested  body  of  men  exists  in 
^ny  community.  But  I would  urge  the  wisdom 
and  policy  of  securing  only  the  best  and  most 
energetic  men,  of  paying  them  liberally  for  their 
whole  time  and  strength,  and  then  of  enlarging 
their  duties  and  opportunities  of  teaching  so  as  to 
develop  and  utilize  their  full  powers.  When  this 
is  done,  let  a community  exact  from  those  to 
whom  is  entrusted  the  education  of  its  youth — from 
the  lowest  to  the  highest  stage — the  very  best 
work;  let  them  insist  by  the  irresistible  force  of 
an  enlightened  and  cultured  public  opinion  that 
they  who  are  set  in  the  high  places  of  learning  shall 
be  the  most  thoroughly  fitted  for  their  posts  ; the 
exaction  will  be  cheerfully  met,  and  the  criticism 
be  gladly  borne,  if  at  the  same  time  the  hands  and 
hearts  of  the  teachers  be  strengthened  by  the  cor- 
dial appreciation  of  a community — competent  to 
criticize  because  itself  aiming  at  a high  standard 
of  culture,  and  authorized  to  exact  because  willing 
to  reward  liberally. 

In  no  one  particular  are  the  changes  concerning 
the  Faculties  of  the  University  more  important 


44 


than  in  establishing  the  eminently  proper  and  ne- 
cessary rule  that  each  Faculty  shall  administer  its 
own  discipline.  It  is  a matter  that  closely  con- 
cerns the  entire  community,  that  the  students  of 
this  University,  already  numbering  nearly  one 
thousand,  shall  learn  thoroughly  the  various  sub- 
jects to  which  they  apply  themselves.  But  it  is 
also  a matter  of  the  greatest  moment  that  they  shall 
acquire,  during  their  University  life,  a due  devel- 
opment of  character,  and  a manly  tone,  self-reliant 
and  vigorous,  but  yet  deeply  tinged  with  respect 
for  law  and  for  the  rights  of  others.  To  know 
that  the  administration  of  discipline  is  tardy  and 
indirect,  and  that  an  appeal  may  be  made  from  the 
sentence  imposed  by  a Professor  or  a Faculty  to 
a Provost,  or  to  any  other  authority,  is  directly 
provocative  of  insubordination;  while  the  mere 
fact  that  the  Professor  or  Faculty  whose  rules  are 
infringed  has  full  and  conclusive  authority  to  deal 
properly  with  such  infraction,  is  a most  potent 
guarantee  against  disorder. 

But,  after  all,  it  is  not  to  elaborate  rules  of  disci- 
pline that  we  are  to  look  for  the  prevention  of  truly 
reprehensible  acts.  The  best  safeguard  against 
these  is  the  cultivation  of  a high-toned  University 
feeling,  aided  by  the  silent  influence  of  the  Chris- 
tian spirit  that  pervades  our  Institution.  Its  or- 
ganization has  now  reached  a point  where  it  is 
impossible  for  the  students  of  one  department  to 
regard  those  of  the  other  departments  in  any  light 
save  as  comrades  and  members  of  the  same  college. 
All  must  feel  themselves  equally  bound  to  protect 


45 


her  reputation,  and  to  govern  themselves  by  the 
best  traditions  of  University  life. 

If,  in  the  larger  world  outside,  no  force  influences 
men  so  powerfully  as  that  of  public  opinion,  it  should 
be  the  case  in  the  lesser  world  of  a University  that 
the  sustained  sentiment  of  Class  after  Class  against 
mean,  ungentlemanly,  or  outrageous  actions  should 
render  their  repetition  practically  impossible.  The 
passage,  year  after  year,  of  a body  of  young  men 
imbued  with  such  feelings,  as  well  as  with  a rea- 
sonable regard  for  intellectual  pursuits,  from  the 
Universities  into  the  general  community,  must 
exert  a constantly  increasing  and  most  beneficial 
influence  upon  the  tone  of  society  and  of  public 
life. 

Such  changes  in  the  powers  and  duties  of  the 
various  Faculties  have  at  once  made  possible  and 
necessitated  important  changes  in  the  functions 
and  position  of  the  Provost,  who  is  the  official 
head  of  the  University.  Owing  to  peculiarities  in 
its  origin  and  development,  his  relations  were  with 
the  undergraduate  department  alone,  until  with- 
in a few  years  past,  when  the  Provost  was  declared 
the  President  of  each  Faculty,  and  was  invited  to 
a seat  at  the  meetings  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 
Still,  while  this  was  an  important  step  in  the  co- 
ordination of  the  various  departments  of  the  Uni- 
versity, it  added  little  to  the  real  power  of  the 
Provost,  or  to  his  ability  to  influence  the  general 
policy  of  the  Institution.  At  the  same  time,  the 
addition  of  new  departments,  the  erection  of  new 
and  important  buildings,  the  large  increase  in  the 
corps  of  professors  and  instructors,  and  in  the  num- 


46 


ber  of  students,  rendered  it  utterly  impossible  for 
anv  man  to  attend  to  the  infinitude  of  details  that 
formerly  came  under  the  Provost’s  supervision. 
But  even  if  possible,  such  concentration  of  his 
time  and  attention  upon  matters  of  mere  detail 
would  of  necessity  divert  him  from  those  larger 
interests  of  the  University  which  his  peculiar  offi- 
cial position  would  enable  him  to  advance  most 
successfully. 

The  recent  amendments  to  the  Statutes  have 
finally  placed  the  Provost  in  his  natural  relation 
to  the  entire  Institution.  The  charter  of  the' Uni- 
versity* renders  it  impossible  for  him  to  be  a regu- 
lar member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees ; and  after 
very  careful  reflection  upon  the  advantages  to  be 
derived  in  this  and  in  other  directions  from  modi- 
fications in  this  charter,  it  has  been  generally  con- 
ceded that  they  are  overbalanced  by  the  possible 
disadvantages  involved  in  an  application  to  the 
State  Legislature,  and  an  abandonment  of  the 
present  independent  position  of  the  University. 
The  same  object  has,  however,  been  accomplished 
practically  by  declaring  the  Provost  to  be  the 
President  p>ro  tempore  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
with  the  power  of  appointing  its  committees.f 
Allusion  has  already  been  made  to  the  enlarged 
duties  and  functions  of  the  several  Faculties,  by 
which  the  organization  of  each  department  is  ren- 

* Act  of  Nov.  27,  1779,  Section  10,  “Provided  always,  that  if  any 
trustee  of  the  said  University  shall  take  any  charge  or  office  under  the 
said  trustees  other  than  that  of  treasurer,  his  place  shall  be  thereby 
vacated.” 

f Excepting  the  Committee  on  Ways  and  Means. 


47 


dered  uniform  and  complete,  and  by  which  the 
Provost  is  for  the  future  relieved  from  very  much 
of  the  detail  work  that  formerly  devolved  upon  him. 
Not  that  this  change  of  system  has  lessened  his 
control  over  the  working  of  each  department,  or 
his  power  of  supervising  and  estimating  the  results 
of  the  work  of  each  professor  and  of  each  student. 
On  the  contrary,  it  has  for  the  first  time  rendered 
it  possible  for  him  to  exert  his  proper  influence; 
and  by  the  establishment  of  a thorough  system  of 
reports  from  the  various  departments  to  secure  an 
accuracy  and  scope  of  information  unattainable 
while  he  was  hampered  with  the  details  of  disci- 
pline and  of  routine  administration.  It  has  always 
been  thought  desirable,  though  not  essential,  that 
the  Provost  should  hold  a chair  in  one  of  the  de- 
partments, so  that  his  practical  experience  as  a 
teacher  should  be  maintained;  and  if  now,  for  the 
first  time  in  the  history  of  the  University,  a teacher 
has  been  selected  from  the  Medical  Department  to 
fill  the  position  of  Provost,  it  must  be  felt  that  the 
choice  has  been  largely  influenced  by  the  brilliant 
record  of  that  department,  and  by  the  admirable 
results  that  are  attending  its  efforts  in  the  cause  of 
higher  medical  education. 

The  growth  of  the  University  during  the  past 
decade  has  been,  it  is  true,  highly  satisfactory;  but 
it  is  evident  that,  with  the  ample  facilities  now 
provided,  and  with  the  large  opportunities  that 
present  themselves,  there  remains  a far  larger  de- 
gree of  activity  to  be  attained.  I prefer  in  the 
first  place  to  address  myself  to  the  undergraduate 
department.  Important  as  the  professional  schools 


48 


are  in  the  general  scheme  of  the  University,  it  is 
largely  by  the  numbers  and  standing  of  its  under- 
graduates that  its  strength  must  be  judged.  Their 
numbers  have  increased  from  183  in  1870  to  283  in 
1880,  a gain  of  65  per  cent. ; but  even  this  latter 
figure  is  far  too  small  when  the  vast  population  of 
this  city  and  State  is  borne  in  mind.  I am  confi- 
dent that  I am  within  the  bounds  of  moderation 
when  I say  that,  if  this  community  were  fully  alive 
to  the  great  practical  benefits  of  a university 
education,  and  were  fully  aware  of  the  advantages 
now  offered  by  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  the 
number  of  students  in  the  undergraduate  depart- 
ment alone  would  speedily  reach  1000. 

There  is,  I am  well  aware,  a widespread 
feeling  that  a university  course  is  not  the  best 
preparation  for  a business  life;  and  as  the  great 
majority  of  the  young  men  of  Pennsylvania  and 
the  adjoining  States  are  destined  for  such  pur- 
suits, it  is  notorious  that  a remarkably  low' 
proportion  of  them  are  sent  to  college.  When 
a boy  had  no  choice  offered  him  but  to  follow  the 
time-honored  classical  course  at  the  University,  it 
may  have  seemed  that  his  acquirements  would  not 
assist  him  materially  in  a business  career.  With 
the  introduction  of  many  new  subjects  into  the 
curriculum,  the  adoption  of  the  elective  system  of 
studies,  and  the  development  of  more  direct,  for- 
cible, and  practical  methods  of  instruction,  this 
objection  became  much  less  valid;  and  wdien,  in 
1875,  the  Towne  Scientific  School  was  established, 
such  large  facilities  were  offered  for  studies  directly 
bearing  on  practical  life  that  it  was  deprived  of 


49 


much  of  its  remaining  force.  A striking  proof  of 
this  is  shown  in  the  fact  that  while  the  students 
in  the  Department  of  Arts  increased  from  123  in 
1870  to  142  in  1880,  those  in  the  Scientific  School 
increased  from  60  to  141  during  the  same  period. 
There  is  reason  to  believe,  however,  that  there  is 
" still  demanded,  not  merely  a freedom  of  election 

between  classical  and  scientific  studies,  but  a com- 
plete course  of  study  specially  adapted  for  those 
who  are  destined  for  business  or  commercial  life: 
and  among  the  projects  that  will  receive  the  care- 
ful consideration  of  the  University  authorities  is 
one  looking  toward  the  establishment  of  a new  de- 
partment for  this  purpose. 

But  it  has  always  seemed  to  me  that  this  objec- 
tion implies  a mistaken  view  as  to  what  really  con- 
tributes most  to  a young  man’s  success  in  life. 
Certainly  the  measure  of  his  success  is  not  to  be 
the  age  at  which  he  can  earn  enough  to  support 
himself.  What  if,  in  the  eager  haste  to  get  an  early 
start  on  the  road  to  wealth,  that  development  of 
character  and  that  training  of  the  mental  powers 
which  will  be  needed  to  grasp  great  success  when 
it  offers  itself  have  been  forfeited?  What  if,  when 
in  the  prime  of  life,  the  successful  man,  sated  with 
the  mere  accumulation  of  wealth,  finds  his  spirit 
restless  and  unhappy  within  him,  and  craves  those 
cultured  tastes  that  may  no  longer  be  acquired? 
We  all  admire  success,  and  respect  successful 
men ; but  it  has  been  my  lot  to  see  so  many  in- 
W stances  where  material  success,  secured  by  fierce 
driving  activity  from  the  earliest  age  without  the 
counterpoise  of  careful  mental  training  and  sus- 

4 


50 


tained  interest  in  intellectual  pursuits,  has  brought 
with  it  unhappiness  and  mental  disease,  that  I have 
been  led  to  believe  that  there  is  no  better  prepa- 
ration for  a successful  and  a happy  life  than  a well- 
selected  course  at  some  large  university. 

I am  aware,  also,  that  there  is  a strong  feeling  on 
the  part  of  many  persons  that  a large  city  is  not 
the  best  site  for  a great  university.  It  is  often 
asserted  that  it  is  necessary  that  the  University 
shall  be  the  main  feature  in  the  life  of  the 
otherwise  insignificant  place  where  it  is  situ- 
ated ; and  historical  precedents,  such  as  those  of 
Oxford  and  Cambridge,  and  some  of  the  German 
Universities,  are  cited  in  support  of  the  assertion. 
The  facts  of  the  case  would  seem  to  show,  however, 
that  this  view  is  not  a just  one.  I should  rather 
infer  from  them  that  while  a university  may  grow 
to  be  great  and  powerful  in  a small  place,  a great 
university  in  the  midst  of  a great  city  will  have 
many  advantages  over  it.  It  is  easy,  of  course,  to 
mention  illustrious  cases  in  proof  of  this,  as  that 
of  the  universities  of  Paris,  of  Berlin,  of  Vienna, 
of  Strasburg,  of  Leipsic;  but  it  is  more  to  our 
purpose  to  consider  this  question  as  it  affects  the 
interests  of  our  universities  in  this  country.  An 
admirable  classical  and  literary  department  may 
thrive  any  where  that  great  teachers  and  good 
libraries  are  collected,  but  this  is  not  so  with  the 
other  departments  of  a University.  When  we 
consider  the  professional  schools,  the  advantages 
of  the  great  city  are,  of  course,  incontestable;  but 
in  any  department,  as  soon  as  studies  that  bear 
on  practical  life  are  begun,  it  is  desirable  that  the 


51 


student  shall  have  access  to  a sort  of  instruction 
that  may  be  styled  illustrative. 

Look,  for  instance,  at  the  unrivalled  opportuni- 
ties offered  by  Philadelphia  to  students  in  the 
Towne  Scientific  School,  who  are  enabled  to  visit, 
study,  and  report  on  the  vast  and  varied  industrial 
establishments  here  maintained.  It  is  impossible 
to  supply,  by  any  laboratory  or  museum,  the  prac- 
tical advantages  that  may  thus  be  secured. 

The  Law  School  can  secure  the  services  of  the 
most  eminent  judges  and  lawyers  whom  it  would 
be  impossible  to  draw  by  a tenfold  salary  from  the 
bench  or  bar  to  occupy  the  position  of  Professor 
in  a provincial  university. 

Many  of  the  teachers  in  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment must  be  active  practitioners  of  medicine  or 
surgery,  with  a familiarity  with  every  form  of  dis- 
ease and  injury  that  can  come  only  from  daily  work 
in  the  hospital  and  the  crowded  consultation-room. 
The  laboratories  where  the  student  of  medicine 
gains  the  most  practical  and  important  part  of  his 
education  are  the  hospital  wards  where  he  is 
trained  in  the  rudiments  of  his  art,  and  the  clin- 
ical amphitheatre  where  he  sees  the  best  results 
that  medical  skill,  aided  by  good  nursing  and  all 
helpful  appliances,  can  secure  in  its  hard  battle 
with  disease. 

If,  indeed,  we  consider  the  numerous  depart- 
ments that  are  comprised  in  our  idea  of  a Univer- 
sity, it  would  seem  impossible  that  it  should  be 
located  elsewhere  than  in  a large  city. 

It  is,  however,  especially  against  the  location  of 
the  undergraduate  department  in  a large  city  that 


52 


these  objections  are  entertained  ; and  as  this  is  a 
matter  of  vital  moment  to  our  University,  I may  be 
pardoned  for  considering  it  in  some  detail,  and 
especially  with  reference  to  the  youth  of  our  own 
city  and  State.  It  may  be  felt,  for  instance,  that 
a student  going  to  a distant  university,  and  to  one 
not  in  a large  city,  would  have  greater  opportuni- 
ties of  becoming  acquainted  with  students  from 
other  sections  of  the  country,  and  thus  of  acquir- 
ing a wider  knowledge  of  men,  with  the  benefits 
that  result  from  such  intercourse. 

It  is  not  sufficiently  appreciated,  I think,  that 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania  is  truly  a national 
institution,  when  all  of  its  departments  are  taken 
into  consideration  together.  Of  the  students  now 
entered  on  its  rolls,  there  are  873  from  the  Middle 
States  (of  whom  728  are  from  Pennsylvania)  ; 2(3 
from  the  Eastern  States;  48  from  the  Southern 
States;  39  from  the  Western  States;  and  56  from 
foreign  countries.  What  we  need,  therefore,  in 
order  to  secure  the  fullest  advantages  of  the  in- 
tercourse of  our  young  men  with  those  of  other 
sections,  is  not  so  much  larger  numbers,  or  greater 
variety  of  nativity,  as  it  is  a better  university 
organization,  and  more  adequate  opportunities  for 
communication  between  the  classes  of  the  different 
departments. 

It  is  manifestly  the  duty  of  the  Provost,  as  it 
certainly  will  be  one  of  his  pleasures,  to  do  all  in 
his  power  to  promote  these  closer  relations  of  a 
personal  and  social  character  among  the  university 
students. 

Again,  there  are  many  who  believe  that  it  adds 


58 


greatly  both  to  the  pleasure  and  benefits  of  a uni- 
versity life,  as  tending  to  create  and  perpetuate  a 
stronger  college  spirit,  that  the  students  should, 
as  far  as  possible,  reside  in  dormitories.  There 
seems,  however,  to  be  much  to  say  on  both  sides 
of  this  question.  Undoubtedly,  in  small  towns, 
where  the  accommodations  are  limited  and  inferior, 
it  must  always  be  necessary  to  have  extensive 
dormitories  to  accommodate  any  large  number  of 
resident  students.  But  whether  they  are  neces- 
sary when  a university  is  located  in  a great  city  is 
a matter  still  under  discussion.  If  it  be  found 
desirable  to  provide  such  halls,  in  order  to  attract 
and  accommodate  greatly  increased  numbers  of 
students  from  a distance,  it  is  certain  that  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania  shall  not  long  be 
wanting  in  this  respect.  But  for  the  present  it 
seems  best  to  call  attention  strongly  to  the  pecu- 
liar advantages  which  Philadelphia  offers  for  the 
accommodation  of  students  of  every  age  from 
other  localities.  This  city  is  essentially  a city  of 
homes;  and  all  over  its  extent,  and  especially  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  University,  are  numerous 
private  boarding-houses,  well  built  and  well  kept. 
In  order  to  test  whether  such  exceptionally  good 
accommodations  may  not  be  made  to  supply  all 
that  is  elsewhere  secured  by  dormitories,  it  is  con- 
templated to  form  official  lists  of  such  boarding- 
houses as  are  worthy  of  the  approval  of  the  Uni- 
versity, and  of  parents  careful  of  the  well-being 
of  their  sons.  It  may  be  questioned  whether  the 
moral  tone,  the  healthfulness,  and  the  economy 


54 


secured  by  such  an  arrangement  will  not  compare 
favorably  with  the  conditions  provided  elsewhere. 

The  period  of  life  between  fifteen  and  twenty- 
two  years,  which  embraces  the  ages  of  most  stu- 
dents in  the  various  departments  of  American  uni- 
versities, is  undoubtedly  a critical  one. 

Few,  who  recall  honestly  their  own  past,  would 
not  be  fain  to  screen  their  sons  from  the  trials 
to  which  they  were  then  subjected;  and  I know 
well  that  many  fear  that,  on  the  contrary,  the  life 
of  a college  student  in  a large  city  is  one  peculiarly 
full  of  temptation.  I am  convinced  that  these 
dangers  have  been  greatly  overestimated.  It  is 
true  that  many  boys  who  go  to  college  develop 
bad  propensities  and  habits;  and  we  often  hear 
such  instances  quoted  as  evidence  of  the  injurious 
influence  of  college  life.  Who  can  determine  what 
character  those  same  boys  would  have  displayed, 
what  vices  they  would  have  contracted,  had  they 
been  kept  sedulously  in  the  narrow  limits  of  their 
villages,  or,  if  city-born,  had  been  educated  in  the 
strictest  isolation?  H ay,  rather,  who  can  tell  in 
how  many  instances  the  development  of  ruinous 
habits  or  defects  of  character  has  not  been  averted 
by  the  healthful  influence  of  that  free  intercourse 
with  manly  young  fellows  that  college  life  ensures  ? 
Those  who  assert  that  boys  educated  in  large  cities 
are  more  disposed  to  be  immoral,  might  well  be 
more  guarded  in  their  assertions,  if,  like  some  of 
us,  they  were  obliged  to  look  into  the  inner  life  of 
those  who  have  possibly  never  met  their  tempta- 
tions, but  who  certainly  have  never  enjoyed  their 
advantages. 


55 


In  one  other  important  respect,  indeed,  the  Chris- 
tian influence  exerted  in  a city  may  he  rendered 
most  valuable.  No  matter  to  what  religious  de- 
nomination a student  may  incline  or  belong,  he 
will  find  its  teachings  fitly  and  eloquently  repre- 
sented. At  a University  in  any  small  centre,  there 
is  a strong  tendency  for  the  religious  element  to 
acquire  a narrow  sectarian  character.  Even  for 
those  students  who  sympathize  with  this,  it  is  a 
doubtful  good  as  compared  with  the  larger  range  of 
religious  teaching  furnished  by  the  churches  of  the 
same  denomination  in  a great  city ; but  for  all  others 
it  is  an  undoubted  disadvantage.  The  strongly 
religious  and  the  strictly  non-sectarian  character 
of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  has  been  its 
most  distinctive  feature  from  its  foundation.  The 
early  Acts  of  incorporation  clearly  establish  the 
fundamental  principle  that,  while  it  was  hoped  the 
University,  “through  the  blessing  of  Almighty 
God,  would  prove  a nursery  of  wisdom  and  virtue, 
and  be  the  means  of  raising  up  men  of  dispositions 
and  qualifications  beneficial  to  the  public,  in  the 
various  occupations  of  life,”  yet  no  religious  body 
whatsoever  should  have  any  prejudice  shown 
against  it.  Throughout  its  history,  and  nevermore 
truly  than  at  the  present  time,  the  composition  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees  and  of  the  various  Facul- 
ties, as  well  as  the  character  of  the  religious  instruc- 
tion given  at  the  University,  has  maintained  a broad 
and  catholic  spirit,  untinged  by  the  slightest  preju- 
dice or  exclusiveness. 

It  seems  impossible  for  any  school  which  intends 
at  the  present  time  to  exert  its  full  influence  in 


56 


the  intellectual  life  of  the  community  to  neglect 
the  subject  of  the  higher  education  of  women.  I 
do  not  refer  to  any  such  question  as  that  of  opening 
the  University  classes  to  young  women,  because  I 
regard  it  as  settled  beyond  dispute  that  the  co-edu- 
cation of  the  sexes  is  inadmissible.  The  University 
has  recently  been  making  cautious  advances  in 
this  direction,  and  persons  of  both  sexes  are  now 
admitted  to  certain  lectures  and  laboratory  work. 
It  may  be  that  this  comprises  as  much  as  is 
safe  or  desirable  to  be  done  in  this  particular 
direction;  and  as  the  special  function  of  the  Uni- 
versity is  not  the  education  of  women,  it  seems 
proper  that  further  action  should  await  the  ex- 
pression of  some  carefully  matured  wishes  or  plans 
on  the  part  of  those  who  may  be  assumed  to  rep- 
resent the  interests  of  women  in  this  matter.  It  is 
evident,  however,  that  some  more  definite  provision 
is  needed  than  now  exists,  to  carry  the  education 
of  women  beyond  the  point  generally  attainable  at 
present.  The  difficulty  has  been  in  part  met  by 
the  establishment  of  special  colleges,  such  as  Vas- 
sal’, Wellesley,  Smith,  or  Taylor;*  and  recently  by 
the  system  of  Private  Collegiate  Instruction  for 
Women,  in  Cambridge  ; but  other  arrangements 
than  these  are  required  to  provide  the  necessary  fa- 
cilities for  the  large  number  of  women  who  desire 
thorough  and  advanced  education.  This  University 

* It  has  been  deeided  that  this  Institution  (founded  by  the  late  Dr. 
Joseph  W.  Taylor,  of  Burlington,  N.  J.,  who  bequeathed  $900,000  for 
the  purpose)  shall  be  known  as  the  Bryn  Mawr  College.  It  is  to  be 
located  near  Bryn  Mawr  Station,  on  the  line  of  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road. 


57 


will  gladly  witness  and  co-operate  with  all  earnest 
efforts  to  secure  such  facilities.  It  recognizes  the 
urgent  need  of  Philadelphia,  as  of  every  other  great 
city,  in  this  direction  ; it  realizes  strongly  the  good 
that  would  follow  from  a more  general  diffusion  of 
higher  culture  and  increased  activity  in  intellectual 
pursuits  among  our  women;  and  the  powerful  in- 
fluence which  would  be  reflected  upon  its  own  fu- 
ture prosperity.  There  should  be  accessible,  not 
only  to  those  who  desire  to  become  teachers,  or  to 
those  who  are  able  or  willing  to  take  up  their  resi- 
dence at  a special  college,  but  to  all  women  who 
exhibit  the  proper  qualifications,  a course  of  edu- 
cation in  many  respects  the  same  as  the  usual 
University  curriculum,  in  certain  particulars  dif- 
ferent, but  of  equal  excellence  and  thoroughness. 
Proficiency  should  be  tested  by  rigid  examinations, 
and  satisfactory  attainments  should  receive  suit- 
able certificates.  The  demand  for  such  facilities  is 
great  and  is  constantly  becoming  more  generally 
recognized.  The  particular  arrangements  for  se- 
curing this  object  may  vary  in  different  places.  If 
true  to  her  traditions,  Philadelphia  will  certainly 
assume  a leading  position  in  the  movement ; and 
while  this  University  cannot  take  the  initiative,  it 
will  watch  with  the  deepest  interest,  and  be  ready 
to  assist  as  far  as  possible,  all  well-considered  efforts 
towards  this  end. 

If  the  future  of  this  University  is  to  be  worthy 
of  its  past,  and  of  the  wide  opportunities  that  are 
offered  to  it,  it  must  be  largely  through  the  co- 
operation and  support  of  its  graduates.  I have  no 
fear  of  being  contradicted  when  I assert  that,  in 


58 


spite  of  many  notable  exceptions,  the  general  inte- 
rest they  have  heretofore  taken  in  the  welfare  of 
their  Alma  Mater  has  not  been  a consuming:  one. 
This  is  not  true  when  we  consider  the  work  of  the 
Alumni  Societies  of  special  departments.  The 
deepest  and  most  active  interest,  and  a large  libe- 
rality, have  been  frequently  displayed.  But  this 
has  been  at  special  times  and  for  special  objects; 
while  what  is  needed  is,  that  there  shall  be  a 
vigorous  organization  of  the  graduates  of  all  the 
departments,  and  that  the  general  prosperity  of 
the  whole  University — which  requires  incessant 
care,  because  its  needs  are  changing  and  enlarging 
incessantly — shall  be  the  object  of  their  constant 
and  zealous  concern. 

This  seems  to  me  to  be  the  greatest  of  all  our  needs 
to-day.  The  internal  organization  and  the  educa- 
tional facilities  of  the  University  are,  in  most  re- 
spects, all  that  can  be  desired;  but  we  need  more 
active  and  universal  co-operation  among  her  gradu- 
ates, so  that  the  entire  community  may  be  led  to 
know  and  appreciate  her  true  position.  But  if  the 
Alumni  are  asked  to  thus  unite  in  earnest  support  of 
the  University,  and  to  assist  her  now  that  her  en- 
larged held  of  operations  requires  even  more  active 
support  than  ever  before,  it  seems  just  and  fitting 
that  their  connection  with  the  University,  and 
their  interest  in  her  affairs,  shall  not  remain  a 
matter  of  sentiment  alone. 

They  are,  it  seems  to  me,  entitled  to  the  fullest 
information  in  regard  to  her  real  position,  plans, 
and  requirements,  and,  as  far  as  may  be  practicable, 
to  a share  in  the  control  of  her  affairs.  The  simplest 


mode  of  accomplishing  this  would  seem  to  he  by 
giving  to  the  united  Alumni  of  all  the  departments 
a definite  representation  in  the  Board  of  Trustees. 
How  far  this  may  be  practicable  under  the  restric- 
tions of  the  Charter  of  the  University  is  a ques- 
tion requiring  careful  consideration  ; but  if  no  in- 
superable obstacles  present  themselves,  I am  con- 
vinced that  the  true  interests  of  the  University 
would  be  promoted  by  such  an  arrangement. 
There  is,  moreover,  another  way  by  which  the 
Alumni  could  be  admitted  to  a real  and  valu- 
able share  in  the  supervision  of  the  University. 
I allude  to  the  formation  of  a body  bearing  to 
the  corporation  something  of  the  relation  held  by 
the  Board  of  Overseers  of  Harvard  College  to 
that  Institution.  I do  not  conceive  that  it  would 
be  necessary  for  such  a body  to  be  called  into  ex- 
istence by  any  special  modification  of  the  Charter, 
in  order  to  give  to  it  a positive  and  permanent 
value.  Its  functions  would  be  purely  those  of 
supervision,  criticism,  and  recommendation;  and  if 
it  be  deemed  expedient  by  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
and  by  the  Alumni  that  some  such  body  shall  be 
called  into  existence,  the  high  character  of  the 
men  selected  as  its  members,  and  the  zeal  they 
would  display  in  promoting  the  welfare  of  the  In- 
stitution, would  speedily  give  it  that  importance 
which  real  utility  alone  can  confer. 

Still  another  means  suggests  itself  for  promoting 
the  active  and  permanent  interest  of  the  Alumni 
in  our  University.  If  a special  work  was  accom- 
plished by  their  united  efforts,  a work  that  would 
be  related  to  every  department,  and  would  influence 


60 


and  advance  the  prosperity  of  each,  it  would  serve 
not  only  as  a memorial  of  their  affection,  but  as  a 
constant  incentive  to  further  zeal.  The  opportu- 
nity for  such  an  undertaking  exists  at  this  moment ; 
and  the  work  of  erecting  a spacious  and  imperish- 
able library  building,  where  the  already  large  and 
constantly  increasing  collections  of  the  University 
could  be  stored,  where  the  students  of  all  depart- 
ments would  meet  in  the  common  enjoyment  of  its 
bounty,  and  to  which  future  generations  of  Alumni 
would  look  with  gratitude  as  the  most  precious  of 
the  many  advantages  they  had  enjoyed — such  a 
work  is  worthy  of  our  united  energies.  The  Uni- 
versity has  other  urgent  needs  at  present ; but 
none  more  imperative  than  this,  and  none  that  can 
so  strongly  solicit  the  cooperation  of  the  graduates 
of  every  department. 

There  are,  indeed,  other  and  urgent  needs,  for 
when  a great  Institution  ceases  to  require  con- 
stant and  liberal  assistance,  it  is  only  because  it 
has  ceased  to  grow,  or  even  to  be  actively  alive. 
It  is  a proud  privilege  of  our  University  that  it 
can  point  to  a career  distinguished  by  spotless 
integrity,  and  by  a scrupulous  discharge  of  every 
trust ; and  that  it  can  now  offer  itself  to  this  vast 
and  wealthy  community  as  the  most  fitting  agent 
for  the  adoption  and  execution  of  its  educational 
and  charitable  purposes. 

The  experience  of  all  countries  has  shown  con- 
clusively that  institutions  created  for  special  pur- 
poses rarely  carry  out  the  original  intention  of 
their  founders. 

But  in  the  case  of  a great  institution,  each  sepa- 


rate  trust  confided  to  it  must  act  only  as  an  incen- 
tive to  more  and  more  vigilance  in  the  discharge 
of  former  obligations,  because  closer  public  scru- 
tiny is  invited,  and  because  the  operation  of  every 
such  trust  will,  in  the  course  of  time,  breed  new 
demands  upon  the  confidence  and  generous  appro- 
bation of  the  community. 

Large  as  have  been  the  gifts  to  the  University 
of  late  years,  they  have  only  enabled  her  to  lay 
the  deep  and  broad  foundations  of  her  future  pros- 
perity. We  still  need  more  and  larger  endow- 
ments for  existing  professorships,  that  will  per- 
petuate the  name  and  munificence  of  their  founders. 
We  need  the  establishment  of  many  free  schol- 
arships, by  aid  of  which  poor  but  meritorious 
students  may  be  supported  and  educated  and 
fitted  for  careers  of  usefulness.  We  need  gene- 
rous additions  to  the  general  funds  of  the  Institu- 
tion, so  that  every  department  may  be  maintained 
in  the  highest  state  of  efficiency.  These  are  some 
of  the  pressing  needs  of  the  University;  and 
those  who  supply  them  may  be  assured  of  the 
largest  returns  on  their  bounty,  and  of  the  most 
faithful  observance  of  their  intentions.  The  net 
income  of  the  University  and  Colleges  of  Oxford 
was  ascertained,  in  1874,  to  be  $2,000,000  a year ; 
$nd  though  generations  must  pass  before  the 
endowments  of  our  American  Universities  ap- 
proach this  in  magnitude,  the  fact  that  such  vast 
sums  have  elsewhere  been  given  for  the  advance- 
ment of  learning  may  well  stimulate  and  encourage 
us.  It  is  a hard  matter  to  over-estimate  the  capa- 
city for  growth  and  achievements  of  a man,  even 


62 


with  his  limited  faculties  and  brief  span  of  life; 
but  it  is  impossible  to  form  an  adequate  conception 
of  the  future  power  of  a great  University  like  ours, 
deeply  rooted  in  the  fertile  soil  of  a peaceful  and 
thoughtful  people ; growing  with  their  growth, 
and  strengthening  with  their  strength  ; increasing 
its  Faculties  and  its  facilities  as  the  mass  of  know- 
ledge multiplies;  and  diffusing  its  illuminating  and 
purifying  influence,  through  ever  widening  circles, 
until,  like  the  sweet  light  of  Sirius,  it  reaches  the 
furthest  confines  of  humanity. 


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